CN108292148B

CN108292148B - Hinge type equipment

Info

Publication number: CN108292148B
Application number: CN201680068012.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: K·西迪克
Original assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
Current assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
Priority date: 2015-11-20
Filing date: 2016-11-15
Publication date: 2021-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-15
Also published as: EP3377957B1; CN108292148A; WO2017087343A1; US20170145725A1; US10227808B2; EP3377957A1

Abstract

This specification relates to devices, such as computing devices having hinged portions. One example may include a first portion and a second portion. The example can also include a hinge assembly and a magnetic assembly. The hinge assembly may rotatably secure the first portion to the second portion. A magnetic assembly is positionable relative to the hinge assembly and the first and second portions, the magnetic assembly biasing the first and second portions to a closed position in which the first and second portions overlap one another and biasing the first and second portions to a fully open position in which the first and second portions are juxtaposed and coplanar.

Description

Hinge type equipment

Brief Description of Drawings

The figures illustrate implementations of the concepts conveyed in this document. Features of the illustrated implementations may be more readily understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements. Further, the left-most digit(s) of each reference number conveys the figure in which the reference number is first introduced and the associated discussion.

Fig. 1-4 and 15-16 illustrate perspective views of example devices according to some implementations of the present concepts.

Fig. 5-14 illustrate perspective views of examples of hinge assemblies according to some implementations of the present concepts.

Fig. 17-23 illustrate cross-sectional views of examples of hinge assemblies according to some implementations of the present concepts.

Detailed Description

The inventive concept relates to devices, such as computing devices employing a recessable hinge assembly that rotatably secures two device portions. The recessable hinge assembly can also bias portions of the device to particular orientations, such as closed and open orientations. In the open orientation, the hinge assembly may be configured to allow the device portions to abut one another to create a near seamless display area across the device portions.

Brief description fig. 1 illustrates an example device 100. In this example, the device 100 has first and

second portions

102 and 104 rotatably secured together by a hinge assembly 106. The first portion 102 may extend from a hinge end 108 to a distal end 110. The second portion 104 may extend from a hinge end 112 to a distal end 114. The first portion may include opposing first and second major surfaces 118 and 120 (hereinafter referred to as first and second surfaces). Similarly, the second portion may include opposing first and second major surfaces 122 and 124 (hereinafter referred to as first and second surfaces).

Example one shows the device 100 in a closed orientation. The closed orientation may be considered as defining a near zero degree angle between the first and second portions, as measured with respect to the hinge assembly 106.

Example two shows the second portion 104 rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise from example one, such that the device is now in a fully open orientation (e.g., 180 degrees), and the first portion 102 and the second portion 104 are adjacent and coplanar. Thus, if displays 126(1) and 126(2) (partially shown) are employed on

first surfaces

118 and 122, in the fully open position, these displays may be treated (e.g., treated) as a single display having a larger (e.g., 2 times) size.

Example three shows the first portion 102 rotated 180 degrees clockwise so that the device is now again in the closed orientation, except now that the displays 126 face inward and are positioned against each other and protected by the first and

second portions

102 and 104. Rather than refer to this configuration as zero degrees, it is not possible to view this as 360 degrees, since in instance one, the

second surfaces

120 and 124 are positioned against each other and the

first surfaces

118 and 122 face outward. The

first surfaces

118 and 122 are now positioned against each other and the

second surfaces

120 and 124 face outwardly.

As mentioned above, in some configurations, the

first surfaces

118 and 122 may appear as the display 126, such that in the fully open orientation of instance two, the displays may work together to create a larger (e.g., 2 times) display area. In some cases, the

second surfaces

120 and 124 may appear as protective covers such that in the configuration of example one, the protective covers protect the display of the first surface. In other configurations, both the first and second surfaces may be displays, or neither may be displays.

Fig. 2-4 show the first and

second portions

102 and 104 in dashed lines so that the underlying components can be visualized. Magnet 202(1) is contained in the first portion. It is noted that not all of these magnets are shown so that other components can be distinguished. The function of these magnets is explained below with reference to fig. 21.

As shown in fig. 2-7, the hinge assembly 106 includes a first hinge sub-assembly 204(1) and a second hinge sub-assembly 204 (2). The spine 206 extends between the first and second hinge assemblies. The spine may provide structural support to the hinge assembly. Further, the spine may include a magnet 208. The magnet 208 may interact with the magnet 202 to preset the device at a particular angle, such as zero degrees, 180 degrees, and/or 360 degrees, among others. This aspect is discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 21.

The first and second hinge sub-assemblies 204(1) and 204(2) may include first and second hinge arms 210A (1) and 210A (2) and 210B (1) and 210B (2). As shown in fig. 2, a flexible circuit 212, such as a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC), may pass through one or both of the hinge subassemblies 204. In this case, the first flexible circuit 212A passes through the first hinge sub-assembly 204(1) and the second flexible circuit 212B passes through the second hinge sub-assembly 204 (2).

Fig. 5-7 show each hinge assembly in isolation in views similar to fig. 3, 2 and 4, respectively.

Fig. 8-14 show enlarged views of a portion of the first hinge sub-assembly 204(1) and the spine 206. In this implementation, the cover plate 802 (removed to show underlying structure in fig. 10) and the ridges 206 cooperatively define opposing slots 806(1) and 806(2) (fig. 8-9) through which the flex circuit 212A (fig. 13-14) can pass. Slot 806 is aligned with a channel 808 (fig. 8-9) defined between hinge arm 210A and spine 206. The slot 806 and channel 808 can protect the flexible circuit 212A (fig. 13-16) passing from one device portion to another (e.g., from the first portion 102 to the second portion 104 as seen in fig. 2). Thus, the flex circuit is protected by the spine 206 and hinge arms 210A through the range of rotation and is mostly or completely covered by the spine 206 and hinge arms 210A.

In this implementation, cover plate 802 helps secure hinge arm 210A to spine 206. Fig. 10 shows the cover plate removed so that the upward and downward facing

hinge pins

1002 and 1004 of the hinge arms can be visualized. The

hinge pins

1002 and 1004 cooperate with the cover plate 802 and spine 206 to define a rotational path for the hinge arm 210A. In other words, each pair of upward and downward facing hinge pins, e.g., hinge pins 1002(1) and 1004(1), define an axis of rotation for hinge arm 210A (1), while hinge pins 1002(2) and 1004(2) define an axis of rotation for hinge arm 210A (2). During this rotation, the hinge pin may also move laterally. This aspect is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 17-19.

Note also that, as noted with reference to fig. 14, the hinge arm 210A defines openings 1402A (1) and 1402A (2). The function of these openings is described below with reference to fig. 15.

Fig. 15 and 16 show views of the apparatus 100 similar to the examples one and two of fig. 1. In this case, the first surface is removed. In fig. 15 and 16, the

second surfaces

120 and 124 of the first portion 102 and the second portion 104 are defined by a frame or housing 1502(1) on the first portion and another frame or housing 1502(2) on the second portion, respectively. The hinge arms can be slidably secured to the housing 1502. In this case, the housing 1502 includes two pairs of spaced apart rails 1504A. The outer surface of the pair of guide rails corresponds to the inner surface of the opening 1402A in the hinge arm 210A. The hinge arms are retained in the z-reference direction between the housing 1502 and the first surface (not shown). However, the hinge arm can slide in the y-reference direction a distance D defined by the interrelation of the pair of rails 1504A and the opening 1402A. From a mechanical perspective, such sliding of the hinge arms can facilitate a device having a wide range of rotation (e.g., 360 degree rotation) and facilitate the first and second portions directly abutting each other in the fully open (e.g., 180 degree) orientation of fig. 16.

Several electronic components, such as circuit boards 1506(1) and 1506(2), processor 1507, and/or storage/memory (not specifically designated), may be secured to housings 1502(1) and 1502(2), respectively. A flexible circuit 212A (shown in fig. 16, removed in fig. 15) may be electrically coupled to these electronic components. In this case, the end of the flex circuit may include a coupler 1508, and the coupler 1508 may be easily received by a corresponding coupler 1510 on the housing (e.g., the flex circuit coupler 1508 may snap into the corresponding coupler 1510), thereby quickly electrically coupling the two device portions. Due to space constraints, the coupler is labeled with reference only to the second portion 104.

The processor 1507 may generate Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for presentation on a display (126, fig. 1). In some implementations, the processor may generate different GUIs for the display when the first and

second portions

102 and 104 are in certain orientations, and a single GUI for joint presentation when the first and

second portions

102 and 104 are in other orientations. For example, when the first and second portions are oriented 90 degrees relative to each other, the processor may generate a first GUI for presentation on the first portion and a second GUI for presentation on the second portion. When the first and second portions are oriented 180 degrees, the processor may generate a single GUI that is presented collectively across the two displays to create a larger display area.

Note that in fig. 15, where the device is closed (e.g., at zero degrees or at 360 degrees), hinge arm 210A (2) has moved fully to the left (e.g., in the negative y-reference direction) relative to rail pair 1504A (1) and 1504A (2). This allows the hinge to operate and allow the

device portions

102 and 104 to rotate to an acute angle (e.g., toward zero degrees and toward 360 degrees). In contrast, in the fully open orientation of fig. 16, hinge arm 210A (2) has moved fully to the right (e.g., in the positive y-reference direction) relative to rail pair 1504A (1) and 1504A (2). This orientation allows the first and

second portions

102 and 104 to abut directly against each other with no (or little) gap between them. In other words, in the fully open orientation of fig. 16, the spine 206 and hinge axis (defined by the hinge pin (with the cover plate removed in fig. 15 and labeled in fig. 15)) are contained within the first and/or

second portions

102 and 104.

Recall that as noted above with respect to fig. 8-10, the cover plate 802 and the ridge 206 also cooperatively define opposing slots 806(1) and 806(2) (fig. 8-9) through which the flexible circuit 212A may pass. The grooves align with channels 808 (fig. 8-9) defined between hinge arms 210A and spine 206. The slots 806 and channels 808 may protect the flex circuit passing from one device portion to another. Thus, the flex circuit is protected by the spine 206 and hinge arms 210A through the range of rotation and is mostly or completely covered by the spine 206 and hinge arms 210A. As shown in fig. 15 and 16, when combined with the slots 806 and channels 808 of fig. 8-9, the slidable attachment of the hinge arms 210A may allow the flexible circuit 212A to be protected by the hinge sub-assembly 204(1) when rotated through a range of orientations from 0 degrees to 360 degrees.

Fig. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 100 along the yz reference plane as indicated in fig. 8. Example one shows oval hinge holes 1702(1) and 1702(2) formed by cover plate 802 and spine 206. Example two shows hinge pins 1002(1) and 1002(2) of hinge arms 210A (1) and 210A (2) (shown in phantom). The hinge pins 1002 are positioned in the oval hinge holes 1702(1) and 1702 (2). The elliptical hinge holes allow lateral movement of the hinge pin (e.g., in the z-reference direction) during rotation of the hinge arms (and thus the device portions) about the hinge pin.

Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 100 along the yz reference plane as indicated in fig. 8. Example one shows hinge pins 1002(1) and 1002(2) in oval hinge holes 1702(1) and 1702 (2). Hinge pins 1002(1) and 1002(2) are associated with hinge arms 210A (1) and 210A (2), respectively. Hinge arms 210A (1) and 210A (2) are associated with first and second portions 102 and 104 (shown in phantom), respectively. It is noted that at this point, the first and

second portions

102 and 104 are parallel to each other in the closed position (e.g., defining a zero degree angle α therebetween).

Fig. 18 introduces cams 1800(1) and 1800(2) that control the distance D between hinge arms 210A during rotation. In this case, the cams appear as

cam surfaces

1802 and 1804. Cam surface 1802 is defined by hinge arm 210A and cam surface 1804 is defined by spine 206 and cover plate 802 (labeled in example three).

Example one shows a first cam surface 1802 on hinge arm 210A and a second cam surface 1804 on the spine and cover plates. The interrelationship of the cam surfaces 1802 and 1804 with the hinge pins 1002 in the oval hinge holes 1702 controls the relative spacing of the hinge arms during opening and closing. In the closed position of example one, the hinge pins 1002 are spaced far apart from each other as the oval hinge holes allow (e.g., as represented by hinge pin-to-hinge pin distance D1). Further, the cam surfaces 1802 and 1804 do not engage each other. (FIG. 19 shows an enlarged view of cam surface 1802(1) on hinge arm 210A (1)).

Example two shows the device 100 at a point in time when the user has opened the first and

second portions

102 and 104 until the angle alpha is approximately 90 degrees. At this point in the rotation, the shape of the cam surface 1802 causes the cam surfaces 1802 and 1804 to engage each other, which maintains the spacing (D2) between the hinge pins 1002(1) and 1002 (2). The camming action also causes the interior corners 1806(1) and 1806(2) of the first and

second portions

102 and 104 to be spaced apart from one another. This feature may prevent the first and second portions from impacting each other at the inner corners 1806 and causing damage during rotation. For example, the first and second portions may be covered with glass displays, which may cause damage, such as chipping, if the glass displays hit each other. This feature reduces/eliminates this risk of damage.

Example three shows the device 100 rotated until the first and second portions are coplanar (e.g., the angle a is 180 degrees). At this point, the shape of the cam surface 1802 allows the first and second portions to move toward each other (e.g., distance D3 is less than distance D1 and/or D2). In this case, the first and second portions are coplanar and abut one another. Thus, in implementations in which a display (126, fig. 1) is employed on the

first surfaces

118 and 122 and/or the

second surfaces

120 and 124, a large (e.g., 2-fold) near seamless display area may be created. Further details of the device 100 in the fully open configuration are illustrated in fig. 20.

Example four shows a continuous rotation for an angle alpha of about 270 degrees. At this point, the shape of the cam surface 1802 causes the cam surface to engage the cam surface 1804 to force the hinge pins 1002 apart, thereby protecting the interior corners 1808(1) and 1808 (2). Thus, distance D4 is greater than D3 and is approximately the same as D2.

Example five shows the first and

second portions

102 and 104 parallel to each other and oriented approximately 360 degrees from example one.

Thus, the cam 1800 can cause the hinged end of the first portion 102 and the hinged end of the second portion 104 to face each other when the device is opened, such as from the first instance in which the first and second portions are adjacent and coplanar to the second instance in which the first and second portions define a right or oblique angle. During this rotation, the cam 1800 may extend the hinge end of the first portion and the hinge end of the second portion away from each other to protect the inner corner 1808.

Fig. 19 shows details of the shape of the cam surface 1802(1) of the hinge arm 210A (1) as mentioned above with respect to fig. 18.

Fig. 20 shows a detail of the device 100 in the fully open configuration (in this case 180 degrees) referred to above with respect to example three of fig. 18. Further, fig. 20 shows recesses 2002(1) and 2002(2) occupied by hinge assembly 106 when the device is in the fully open configuration with hinge arm 210A slid into the device portions as mentioned with respect to fig. 16. For example, hinge arm 210A (2) slides into first portion 102 in the negative z-reference direction, while hinge arm 210A (1) slides into second portion 104 in the positive z-reference direction. The hinge assembly 106 sliding into the recesses 2002(1) and 2002(2) may allow the

surfaces

118 and 122 and 120 and 124 to abut each other. In one configuration, the

first surfaces

118 and 122 may appear as displays such that a single graphical user interface may be presented collectively across both displays to effectively double the display area. Alternatively or additionally, the

second surfaces

120 and 124 may appear as displays that receive another graphical user interface for common presentation.

Recall that fig. 18 shows how the first portion 102 and the second portion 104 can be rotated from zero degrees to 360 degrees. Fig. 21 illustrates how a device may exert a force on the first and second portions to bias the first and second portions toward a particular relative angular orientation.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view as indicated in fig. 5. Fig. 21 shows how magnets 202(1), 202(2), and 208 cooperate to produce a force that

biases device portions

102 and 104 toward a particular orientation. Thus, from one perspective, magnets 202(1), 202(2), and 208 may be considered magnetic kits 2100 configured to bias the first and second portions to a particular angular orientation or configuration.

Example one shows

device portions

102 and 104 in a closed configuration (e.g., angle a is 360 degrees), where the portions overlap each other. Magnets 202(1) and 202(2) interact (e.g., attract each other) to produce a biasing force toward the closed configuration. For example, the north (N) pole of magnet 202(2) is positioned near the south (S) pole of magnet 202(1), and the north pole of magnet 202(1) is positioned near the south pole of magnet 202 (2). The attractive force between the magnets creates a force that holds the first and second portions in this closed configuration. The user may apply more force to overcome the magnetic force and open the device.

Example two shows the device opened to about 220 degrees, which may be referred to as an intermediate orientation (e.g., between closed and fully open). At this point, the magnetic attraction between the magnets 202 in the first and

second portions

102 and 104 and the magnets 208 in the spine 206 creates a force that biases the device to continue opening. Specifically, the force between magnets 202(1) and 202(2) is reduced compared to example one, but the attractive forces between magnets 202(2) and 208 and between magnets 208 and 202(1) are increasing. In example two, the south pole of magnet 202(2) is attracted to the north pole of magnet 208 of spine 206. The south pole of magnet 208 is attracted to the north pole of magnet 202 (1). This attractive force may bias the device into the fully open configuration of example three.

Example three shows that ridge magnet 208 interacts with magnets 202(1) and 202(2) in the following manner: the device is biased toward this fully open orientation in which the first and

second portions

102 and 104 are juxtaposed and coplanar. The magnets not only serve to bias the first and second portions toward the fully open orientation, but they also serve to retain the device in the fully open orientation. The attractive forces between magnets 202(2), spine magnets 208, and magnets 202(1) may also cause the device portions to be drawn together until the device portions abut one another (discussed above with reference to fig. 18 and also shown in fig. 20).

Example four shows a situation where the user has applied a force for folding or closing the device. At this time, the attractive forces of the spine magnet 208 and the magnets 202 of the first and

second portions

102 and 104 are decreasing, and the attractive forces of the magnets 202(1) and 202(2) to each other are increasing. The attractive forces of magnets 202(1) and 202(2) may bias the device toward the orientation of example five.

Example five shows the device in a closed orientation (e.g., angle a equals zero degrees). This orientation is identical to that of example one, except that the inward and outward surfaces are reversed. The attractive force between magnets 202(1) and 202(2) biases the device to maintain this orientation (e.g., the device portions will not rotate away from each other unless acted upon by a force such as a user rotating them apart).

Fig. 22-23 show cross-sections of two ridge implementations.

Fig. 22 shows magnets 208(1) and 208(2) positioned at opposite ends of spine 206 with structural material 2200 interposed therebetween. Structural material 2200 can be, for example, a plastic or metal fabric covered with a cured polymer cover layer, a cured foam, a combination of these materials, or other materials.

Fig. 23 shows a structural material 2200A in the form of an I-beam, wherein magnets 208(1) and 208(2) are positioned in opposing recesses formed by the I-beam structure.

The individual elements of the hinge assembly 106 can be made of various materials, such as metal, plastic, and/or composite materials. These materials may be prepared in various ways, such as in the form of sheet metal, die cast metal, machined metal, 3D printed material, molded or 3D printed plastic, and/or molded or 3D printed composite, or any combination of these materials and/or preparations may be employed.

The hinge assembly of the present invention may be used with any type of device, such as, but not limited to, notebook computers, smart phones, wearable smart devices, tablets, and/or other types of existing, developing, and/or yet to be developed devices.

Example method

In addition to the methods of manufacturing, assembling, and using the hinge assemblies and devices illustrated above with reference to fig. 1-23, various methods of manufacturing, assembling, and using the hinge assemblies and devices are also contemplated.

Additional examples

Various hinge assembly and device examples are described above. Additional examples are described below. One example can include a device including a first portion and a second portion and a hinge assembly secured to a hinge end of the first portion and a hinge end of the second portion to rotatably secure the first and second portions. The hinge assembly includes a cam. The cam is configured to cause the hinge end of the first portion and the hinge end of the second portion to face each other when the device is opened and the first portion and the second portion are adjacent and coplanar. The cam is further configured to extend the hinge end of the first portion and the hinge end of the second portion away from each other when the first and second portions extend toward each other to define an oblique angle.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the cam is located in the hinge assembly, or wherein the cam is configured to move the hinge assembly into and out of one of the first and second portions during rotation.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below, wherein the hinge assembly defines first and second axes of rotation, and wherein the cam comprises a first cam that acts with respect to the first axis of rotation and a second cam that acts with respect to the second axis of rotation.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the hinge assembly includes a first hinge sub-assembly at a first end of the first and second portions and a second hinge sub-assembly at a second end of the first and second portions.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the apparatus further comprises a ridge extending between the first hinge sub-assembly and the second hinge sub-assembly.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the ridge comprises opposing recesses, and the device further comprises a magnet positioned in the recesses.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below, wherein the apparatus further comprises an additional magnet positioned in the first and second portions that interacts with the magnet to bias the first and second portions toward an angular orientation of 0 degrees relative to each other, 180 degrees relative to each other, or 360 degrees relative to each other, rather than an intervening angle.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the hinge ends of the first and second portions define a recess, and wherein the kit defines first and second axes of rotation, and wherein the cam comprises a first cam that acts relative to the first axis of rotation and a second cam that acts relative to the second axis of rotation.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the hinge assembly is included in the first and second portions when the first and second portions are oriented 180 degrees relative to each other.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the hinge assembly biases the first and second portions to be oriented at an angle of 0 degrees relative to each other, at an angle of 180 degrees relative to each other, or at an angle of 360 degrees relative to each other, rather than at an intervening angle.

Another example can include a device including a first portion having a major surface and a second portion having another major surface. The device further includes a spine hingeably securing the first and second portions through a range of angular orientations, wherein in a closed angular orientation the first and second portions are adjacent to each other and the major surface overlies the other major surface, and in an open angular orientation the major surface and the other major surface are adjacent and coplanar to each other and the spine is contained in a recess in one or both of the first and second portions.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the ridge biases the first and second portions to the closed angular orientation and the open angular orientation.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the ridge includes a magnet oriented to attract other magnets in the first and second portions to bias the first and second portions to the open orientation, and wherein the other magnets in the first and second portions attract each other to bias the first and second portions to the closed orientation.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface comprise a display.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below, wherein the device further includes a processor that generates a single graphical user interface for common presentation across the displays when the device is in an open angular orientation, and generates separate graphical user interfaces when the device is in other orientations.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the spine is rotatably secured to a first hinge arm slidably secured to the first portion and rotatably secured to a second hinge arm slidably secured to the second portion.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the first and second hinge arms include cam surfaces that define a distance therebetween during rotation.

Another example may include a device comprising a first portion and a second portion and a hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion to the second portion. The device further includes a magnetic assembly positioned relative to the hinge assembly and the first and second portions, the magnetic assembly biasing the first and second portions to a closed position in which the first and second portions overlap one another and biasing the first and second portions to a fully open position in which the first and second portions are juxtaposed and coplanar.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the magnetic kit further exerts an attractive force in the fully open position to pull the first and second portions toward each other.

Another example may include any combination of the above and/or below examples, wherein the attractive force pulls the first and second portions against each other in the fully open position.

Final phrase

Although the techniques, methods, devices, systems, etc., described in connection with the hinge assembly have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed methods, devices, systems, etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus employing a hinge assembly, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and the number of the first and second groups,

a hinge assembly secured to the link end of the first portion and the link end of the second portion to rotatably secure the first and second portions, the hinge assembly including a hinge bore, first and second hinge arms associated with the first and second portions and including corresponding first and second hinge pins rotatable in the hinge bore, and a cam;

wherein the cam configures the apparatus to have a first configuration in which the first portion and the second portion are adjacent and coplanar and a second configuration in which the first and second portions extend toward each other to define an oblique angle;

wherein the first hinge arm is slidably secured to the first portion and the second hinge arm is slidably secured to the second portion such that a hinge end of the first portion and a hinge end of the second portion are toward each other in the first configuration and away from each other in the second configuration; and

wherein the interrelationship of the cam with the first and second hinge pins controls the relative spacing of the first and second hinge arms during opening and closing of the device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cam is configured to move the hinge assembly into and out of one of the first and second portions during rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly defines first and second axes of rotation, and wherein the cam comprises a first cam that acts relative to the first axis of rotation and a second cam that acts relative to the second axis of rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge sub-assembly at a first end of the first and second portions and a second hinge sub-assembly at a second end of the first and second portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a ridge extending between the first hinge sub-assembly and the second hinge sub-assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the ridge comprises opposing recesses, and the apparatus further comprises a magnet positioned in the recesses.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an additional magnet positioned in the first and second portions that interacts with the magnet to bias the first and second portions toward an angular orientation of 0 degrees relative to each other, 180 degrees relative to each other, or 360 degrees relative to each other, rather than an intervening angle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly biases the first and second portions toward an angular orientation of 0 degrees relative to each other, 180 degrees relative to each other, or 360 degrees relative to each other, rather than an intervening angle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge arms are slidably secured to two pairs of rails included in the first and second portions, the rails being spaced apart.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge pins are movable in the hinge holes, thereby forming a hinge distance between the axes of rotation of the first and second hinge pins, and wherein the hinge distance in the first configuration is shorter than the hinge distance in the second configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a major surface and the second portion has another major surface; and further comprising a ridge hingeably securing the first and second portions through a range of angular orientations, wherein in a closed angular orientation the first and second portions are adjacent to each other and the major surface overlies the other major surface, and in an open angular orientation the major surface and the other major surface are adjacent and coplanar to each other and the ridge is contained in a recess in one or both of the first and second portions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ridge biases the first and second portions to the closed angular orientation and the open angular orientation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spine comprises a magnet oriented to attract other magnets in the first and second portions to bias the first and second portions to the open angular orientation, and wherein the other magnets in the first and second portions attract each other to bias the first and second portions to the closed angular orientation.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the major surface and the another major surface comprise a display.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a processor that generates a single graphical user interface for common presentation across the display when the device is in the open angular orientation and generates separate graphical user interfaces when the device is in other orientations.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spine is rotatably secured to a first hinge arm slidably secured to the first portion and rotatably secured to a second hinge arm slidably secured to the second portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second hinge arms include cam surfaces that define a distance therebetween during rotation.

18. An apparatus employing a hinge assembly, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion having inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces;

a hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion to the second portion such that in a first closed position the inwardly facing surfaces fold together and overlap each other and in a second closed position the outwardly facing surfaces fold together and overlap each other, the hinge assembly including a cam, a cam surface that is a surface on the cam defined by the first and second hinge arms, respectively, another cam surface that is a surface in the hinge assembly that interacts with the cam surface, first and second hinge arms slidably secured to the first portion and the second hinge arm slidably secured to the second portion, and a hinge pin that is spaced apart from each other in response to the cam surface interacting with the another cam surface, and the cam's interrelationship with the hinge pin controls the relative spacing of the first and second hinge arms during opening and closing of the device; and the number of the first and second groups,

a magnetic assembly positioned relative to the hinge assembly and the first and second portions, the magnetic assembly biasing the first and second portions to the first closed position in which the inwardly facing surfaces overlap each other, biasing the first and second portions to a fully open position in which the first and second portions are juxtaposed and interior corners of the inwardly facing surfaces abut to form a single coplanar plane, and biasing the first and second portions to the second closed position in which the outwardly facing surfaces overlap each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the magnetic kit further applies an attractive force in the fully open position to pull the first and second portions toward each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the attractive force pulls the first and second portions against each other in the fully open position.